Firefighters contain fire to basement before it could spread in Vanier

Ottawa Fire Services says a fire that started in a chair in the basement of a duplex in Vanier this Christmas morning was quickly stopped before spreading into the entire structure.

Firefighters say they received a call just before 8 a.m. reporting there was a chair on fire in the basement of a duplex located in the 600 block of Mutual Street.

When crews arrived at the scene, they saw smoke coming from one side of the duplex. They then immediately declared a working fire to request additional resources to the scene.

The fire was declared under control at 8:08 a.m. Firefighters then searched the building and did not find any occupants inside.

Crews say an OC Transpo bus provided shelter to the residents while they extinguished the fire.

The Ottawa Paramedic Service told CTV Ottawa Wednesday there were five people in the building. Paramedics assessed two patients at the scene. No one was transported to hospital.

Residents were allowed to go back to their units after the air quality was deemed safe.

Victim Services was also dispatched to the scene to help the residents.

A fire truck was left at the scene to monitor for any flareups. The scene has since been cleared.